Sunflower Highlights

Post Date: Oct 07 2024

Crop Progress - Monday, October 7, 2024

State	This Week	Last Week	Last Year	5 Year Average
North Dakota
Bracts Yellow	92	82	91	91
Mature	70	46	73	72
Harvested	3	--	1	7
South Dakota
Bracts Yellow	79	66	94	--
Mature	57	36	60	--
Harvested	3	--	2	6
Minnesota
Harvested	5	1	14	14
Texas
Harvested	90	87	79	75
Kansas
Harvested	32	11	33	15
Colorado
Harvested	11	2	11	11

Crop Conditions - Monday, October 7, 2024

State	Timeframe	Very Poor	Poor	Fair	Good	Excellent
North Dakota	This week	2	4	31	61	2
	Last week	2	5	27	64	2
Minnesota	This week	0	1	27	63	9
	Last week	0	1	23	65	11
Colorado	This week	29	21	31	18	1
	Last week	22	27	33	18	0
South Dakota	This week	7	6	32	55	0
	Last week	7	7	32	49	5

Grower Report

Regent, ND grower Josh Greff says he did not have any disease or weed issues this year, but did have more blackbirds than normal. He says his crop is drying down and looks good. He is not sure when he will start harvesting but is concerned about how dry it is. They have not had any significant rain since the beginning of August.

Markets

Last week Colorado Mills in Lamar, Colorado rolled out its 2025 new crop High Oleic Act of God contracts at $21.00. At the crush plants the October and November contracts were unchanged to up 20 cents this week. Sunflower harvest has started in the Dakotas and Minnesota. In Texas, harvest continues to move along ahead of the five-year average. In the past week, producers harvested an additional 33,000 acres pushing 2024 harvested acres to about 52,000 acres. This represents 6% of this year’s projected harvested acres and is slightly behind last year at this same time. Traders are eagerly awaiting to see USDA’s first estimate of 2024 US harvested sunflower acres and total seed production that will be released this week. Last week USDA pegged old crop sunflower stocks in all positions on at 575.3 million pounds, up 57 percent from a year ago. Stocks of oil type sunflower seed were 49 percent higher than last year. This will give the market some cushion to begin the marketing year. However, traders are expecting to see much lower seed production based on reduced harvested acres this year. This report along with actual harvest reports will set the tone for nearby sunflower price direction in the near term. The market will also be keeping tabs on the latest geopolitical conflicts in both the Middle East and Black Sea region. Events taking place could cause energy and grain prices to move higher.

Monitor for Phomopsis stem canker

With the sporadic rains, it is important to scout for Phomopsis stem canker and other sunflower diseases. For Phomopsis stem canker, a light to dark colored lesion develops on the stem, and a possible discoloration on the sunflower head. Mathew’s lab at North Dakota State University is needing sunflower plant samples that are suspected of Phomopsis stem canker. Using culture techniques and DNA-based assays, the fungus causing Phomopsis stem canker will be determined. For information on how to send samples, please contact Febina Mathew (febina.mathew@ndsu.edu). The address to send samples (only diseased stem and/or head rot) is Febina Mathew, NDSU Plant Pathology Dept., 1402 Albrecht Blvd., 306 Walster Hall, Fargo, ND 58102. For more on Phomopsis stem canker or other sunflower diseases, visit https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/publications/sunflower-disease-diagnostic-series

Reduce the risk of combine fires

As sunflower harvest gets underway, a reminder about reducing the risk of combine fires this harvest season. Be sure to keep a clean work area when harvesting sunflower. Blow the combine and grain dryer setup with an air hose daily. Also, try nighttime harvesting when humidity levels are higher. And keep a small pressure sprayer filled with water on hand in the combine. For more information, visit Combine Fire Responses (sunflowernsa.com)

Upcoming Events

January 8-9, 2025 - NSA Research Forum; Holiday Inn; Fargo, ND
June 24-26, 2025 - NSA Summer Seminar; Bismarck, ND

Markets at a Glance

Weekly Prices Recorded on Monday, October 7, 2024 ($/CWT)

	Deliver	Last Year	Last Week	This Week	Change	2025 NEW Crop
Chicago Oil	Nearby	53.99	43.51	44.57	+1.06	44.57
West Fargo, ND	NuSun	NQ	NQ	NQ	NC	NQ
West Fargo, ND	High Oleic	17.65	18.25	18.40	+.15	21.00
Enderlin, ND	NuSun	16.70	NQ	NQ	NC	NQ
Enderlin, ND	High Oleic	17.70	18.00	18.20	+.20	21.00
Lamar, CO	High Oleic	18.00	19.50	19.50	NC	21.00

U.S. CRUDE OIL VALUES recorded on Monday, October 7, 2024
(dollars per 100 lb. internal U.S. locations)

	Last Year	Last Week	This Week	Change
Soybean Oil	58.73	44.01	45.07	+1.06
Cotton Oil (pbsy)	88.23	68.51	69.57	+1.06
Corn Oil	72.00	45.00	45.00	NC

Prices recorded here are believed to be reliable at the time of posting. Individual companies have the right to correct any errors that may occur. Contact these facilities for complete market details.

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